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The Gimme – I think like most golfers (on non-competition days). I love a “gimme" when my ball is close enough to the hole to be able to claim it is guaranteed it is going in. Sometimes, when I am not putting well, I have been known to try to stretch the rule and claim a “gimme" from outside an acceptable distance, usually resulting in screams of “No gimme!".

What clubs do you use?

A bit of a mix . . . Mizuno irons, Ping drivers, Cleveland wedges and a Scotty Cameron putter. My theory is that one type should work each round on average.

Favourite course and favourite hole

KLGCC in Kuala Lumpur and Barnbougle / Lost Farm in Tasmania are very hard to beat. Favourite hole would have to be the par 3, 11th at Heritage Golf Club (St John Course). It is at the base of an old quarry and is surrounded by water to 65 per cent of the green – a great hole to take nervous visitors to.

Most inspiring golfer

Tiger Woods – he has triumphed back to number one in the world after dealing with an amazing amount of public scrutiny and criticism. To come back from that and get back to focusing on his game is an incredible achievement when most of the world was looking for his demise.

Memorable moments or embarrassing outbursts

My first round ever at KLGCC in Kuala Lumpur where I was playing with seven important business colleagues I had not spent much time with socially and was looking to impress. I was using hired clubs and had not had time to warm up with them. As they have caddies for all players over there, I lined up on the first hole and my caddie pointed and said: “Mr Gurner – 260 metres straight up the middle between the bunkers is the best line". Already nervous, I stepped up to the tee and absolutely shanked the shot between my legs about two metres, to my absolute embarrassment.

In front of everyone my caddie comes up and very loudly says: “Now Mr Gurner, 258 metres straight up the middle, please, between the bunkers" – as if I wasn’t embarrassed enough already.

Tips

Get lessons before you learn bad habits with your swing.

Worst thing about golf

Bad days and lost balls.

Why golf?

It is just like business – it is a game you can never perfect and it takes incredible work, commitment, patience and perseverance to be able to play reasonably well. The minute you get ahead of yourself your game falls apart, so it always keeps you honest – just like business.

Thoughts from the 19th hole

I would never change the tradition, heritage and the rules around the old clubs. I love the beauty, sophistication and honour of them, something that is being lost in all other elements of our society. I would love to see a way for Australian clubs to be more financially viable, as a lot of our great clubs have been shut down or have really deteriorated in quality over the past six years since the GFC as membership numbers have decreased significantly.